Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-04-29
GLADSTONE ON AMERICA.
He Visits the ssWild West'' show and
Makes an Interesting Speech.

Mr.. Gladstone visited the American exhibition
In London yesterday, and also the Indian camp
OF the braves attached to Buffalo Bills Wild West
Show. He was much impressed with the scenes
at the latter place, where he was treated to q
special exhibition, which startled the visitors
and affected Mr.. Gladstone with a child-like de-
light. After the performance Mr.. Gladstone was
introduced to Chief Red Shirt, with whom he held
lengthy conversation. Mr. Gladstone asked Red
Shirt IL he noticed any difference between the Eng
lish and Americans and whether he regarded them
as brothers. Red Shirt replied that he did not
notice much about the brotherhood. Fifteen hum
dred workmen who were in attendance al the ex-
hibitiOn wildly cheered Mr.. Gladstone and home
rule.
lunch was given in honor OF Mr. and Mrs.
Gladstone Col. Roberts, OF Boston, presided. Mr.
Gladstone made notable speech. He said 1T was
impossible for him not to express very great In
tereSt In the spectacle that had that day been
presented to him. The institutions OF America and
the progress OF America had always been TO him a
subject OF very great interest. Ever since when
many years ago he had studied the life of WASH
1ngton he had become aware OF two things first
OF the magnitude OF the destiny reserved for the
people OF America; secondly, that the period OF
the birth OF the American state was OF more in
terest than any other 1t was possible to study.
When any young man DESTROYS OF studying polit-
fcal life consulted him as TO the course OF study he
should pursue In the field OF history IL had been
history of America. Now their destinies were
assuming such great dimensions and the prospect
OF what was contained in their future became an
almost overwhelming thought; but with pro-
gress came responsibilities, and the stronger
and greater they became as people the
more it would be incumbent upon them to
Set to the world an example 10 be followed.
He could not, in justice TO them, lay before them
the impressions Of all he had seen that day.
They had surpassed EngliShmen In feats OF horse
manship, although Engishmen believed they had
surprised ali otner nations, and he hoped their
exhibition would stir up British emulation and
lead TO further developments or what he might
call noble art He understood that the main
purpose or the exhibition was 20 bring American
life before the English people. III that were So he
could only say there was no purpose he valued
more. He believed that the exhibition was a COM
mercial speculation, and he hoped that IL would
be good speculation, but IT was more than that.
There was nothing more desirable on this side OF
the water than a true and accurate representa-
ago there existed, as he believed, a prejudice
against England In America, and a prelu-
dice in America against England. He be
believed every workman engaged on that
side rejoiced In being employed in a task,
the execution OF which would bring Eng
God Almighty had made Englishmen and Ameri-
cans kinsmen ana they ought to have affection
for one another, ana II they had not humanity
would cry shame upon them. He reJoiced that the
clouds that had parted them had almost disap-
peared from the political sky, and that the future
was as bright and promising the warmest-
hearted among them could wish 1t to be- A half
century ago some admirable works on America
had been published, he regretted TO say, not by
EngliShmen but by a French writer. Since then
We had learned but little OF America, which had
during that time developed to an extent almost
incredible.
America had not been idle since that time. She
had gone through one OF the greatest struggles
the result OF that struggle Was what the mass OF
the people OF England wished IL TO be. He be-
liar trial. though that was scarcely possible the
result OF the issue would be the same.